Split This Rock’s Annual Poetry Contest serves to raise the visibility
and prestige of poetry of provocation and witness. Judged this year by
Sheila Black, past judges have included Rigoberto González, Natalie Diaz,
Kyle Dargan, Mark Doty, Naomi Shihab Nye, Tim Seibles, Jan Beatty, and
Chris Abani. Submissions should be in the spirit of Split This Rock:
socially engaged poems, poems that reach beyond the self to connect with
the larger community or world. Up to 3 poems may be submitted and there is
a $20 reading fee which benefits Split This Rock Poetry Festival: Poetry of
Provocation & Witness. First place receives $500; 2nd and 3rd place, $250
each. All three prize winners will receive free Split This Rock Poetry
Festival 2018 registration and have their poems published in* The Quarry
http://www.splitthisrock.org/poetry-database,* our online social justice
database. Additionally, the first place winning poet will be invited to
read on the main stage with other featured poets at the festival. The
contest deadline is November 1, 2016. More information can be found on
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/events/285862891768721/, at Submittable
https://splitthisrock.submittable.com/submit, and on the 2017 Poetry
Contest web page
http://www.splitthisrock.org/programs/contests-awards/2017-poetry-contest.
Past winners can be found by visiting The Quarry: A Social Justice Poetry
Database http://www.splitthisrock.org/poetry-database, clicking
“Contest-Winning Poems,” and then clicking “Annual Poetry Contest.”

We are also excited to offer a prize this year—the *Hajja Razia Sharif
Sheikh Prize in Poetry and Nonfiction*. Winners must be undergraduates
currently enrolled in degree granting colleges in the United States, and
awards will be given to the best essay and poem that addresses the
experience of being Muslim in America. While the authors would not have to
identify as Muslim to be awarded the prize, each piece must in some way
speak to the experience — joys and challenges — of being Muslim in America
today, or describe components of the American Muslim experience in ways
that educate and inform our readers. It is free to enter. The first prize
in each category will be $500 and publication in OAR, and the second
prize will be $300 and publication.